Ohh THANK YOU for this!
Bugs and cute furry mammals (and weeds, and poison ivy) continue to plague my own gardening efforts.
It's easier to show no mercy to a bug.
But the little ground squirrels are so cute DESTRUCTIVE (note to self) -
DO NOT FALL FOR THE CUTENESS!

NOT a vole, mole, mouse, rat, gopher, marmot, or prairie dog. She was quite sure we are invaded by some species of ground squirrel. She made some suggestions, and sent me a very useful link about ground squirrel control.

Juicy fruit gum. For real???
Perhaps not:

Squirrels apparently eat chewing gum, which binds in their intestines and kills them. People who have had problems with squirrels, gophers, and chipmunks say chewing gum do kill squirrels. However, there is no known scientific study established definitively if chewing gum kills squirrels.

... other substitute materials, such as Ex-Lax laxative or even Irish Spring soap.

Why should we wage war on the cute little critters?

Damage to the home – Squirrels chew and gnaw on walls, insulation, wood, electric wires, and almost everything inside your home. This is a fire hazard and it damages the structure significantly. Squirrels are also hard to evict once they have settled in the attic and have raised young squirrels in it.
Stealing of food – Squirrels are a threat to fruit farms and crops because they eat the produce and negatively affect the farm’s productivity.
Spreading of diseases – Squirrels also carry organisms responsible for diseases such as ringworm, plague, tularemia, typhus, and other diseases.

Does Chewing Gum Kill Squirrels? Facts vs Myths